PISCES. 
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Scicena, of which there are seven subg-enera. The general characters are,— the head inflated, and supported by 
cavernous bones ; two dorsals, or one deeply notched, the soft part much longer than the spinous ; the anal short, 
the pre-operculum toothed, and the operculum divided into points at its extremity ; seven arches in the gills. 
They resemble the Perches, only they have no teeth in the palate ; their whole head is scaly, their air-bladder 
often curiously fringed, and the stony appendages in the ear larger than in most fishes. The following are the 
subgenera : — 
Scicejia, or Maigres, properly so called, which have the spines of the anal weak, and neither elongated canine 
teeth nor cirri at the mouth. One species, S. umbra, inhabits the Mediterranean, and used to be highly esteemed, 
but has latterly become rare. It grows to the length of six feet or more. Some other species of this subgenus 
are found in the Southern and Indian Seas. 
Otolithus, has the anal spines weak, and no cirri, some elongated or canine teeth, and two horns attached to the 
air-bladder, and erected forwards. They are Indian and American fishes ; one is known as the Stone Perch of 
Pondicherry. Ancylodon, resembles the former, but has a short muzzle, long canine teeth, and a pointed tail. 
Corvina, small and crowded teeth, with neither canines nor cirri ; the second anal spine rather strong. One, 
species, C. nigra, is abundant in the Mediterranean, and there are others in the Indian and American seas. 
Jolmius, resembles the last, but has the second anal spine weaker, and shorter than the soft rays. They are found 
in the seas of India, Tropical Africa, and America, and are esteemed as food, their flesh being white and easy of 
digestion. Umfinwa, distinguished by a cirrus on the lower jaw. A remarkably beautiful fish, found plentifully 
in the Mediterranean, and occasionally on the southern coasts of Bi'itain. Its ground colour is golden, with bright 
bands of steel blue ; and its flesh is excellent. It is not a very long fish, but is sometimes forty pounds in weight. 
Pogonias, somewhat like the former, but with several cirri below the jaw. Some of them are silvery, and attain 
the size of an Umbrina. This fish produces much more sound than any of the other Sciaenidae, on which account 
it is sometimes called the Drum-fish. 
Eques, has a long and compressed body, elevated at the shoulders, and tapering to the tail ; the teeth are small 
and closely set ; the first dorsal is high, the second long and scaly ; and they all belong to the American seas. 
The Scisenidae with a single dorsal fin, are subdivided according to the number of the gill-rays. 
Those which have seven, correspond to some genera of the Sparidae, and have the pre-operculum always 
notched. The following genera have seven gill-rays ; — 
Hoemidon, has the muzzle lengthened, resembling that of a Hog ; the lower jaw compressed, opening very wide 
and of a bright red. Hence they are called “ Red-throats ” in the West Indian Islands. Their teeth are small, and 
closely set ; and their dorsal fin is slightly notched, having the soft part scaly. They inhabit the American seas. 
Pristipoma, have pores in the jaw, like the last species, but the muzzle thicker, the mouth not so deeply cleft, 
and their dorsal and anal fins without scales. The obtuse angle of the operculum is concealed by a membrane. 
They are numerous, and inhabit the warm latitudes of both oceans. 
Digramma, resemble the last-named, except that the cavity of the symphysis is wanting, and there are two large 
pores beneath each side. Tliey are found in both oceans. Those of the Atlantic have large scales, and those of 
the Indian Ocean smaller, and a shorter and thicker muzzle. 
The Scisenidae with a single dorsal, and less than seven gill-rays, admit of more subdivision. Some 
have the lateral line extending to the caudal fin, others have it interrupted. The following genera 
possess the former character : — 
Lobotes, have the muzzle short, the lower jaw prominent, the body high, and the posterior angle of the dorsal 
and anal fins so elongated, as, with the rounded caudal fin, to appear in three lobes. There are four groups of very 
small points near the end of the jaw. Tliey inhabit both oceans. 
Cheilodactylis, have the body long, the mouth small, many spinous rays in the dorsal, and the lower rays of the 
pectorals simple, and produced beyond the membrane. 
Scolopsides, have the second suborbital plate toothed, and terminated by a point directed backwards, crossing 
another point of the third suborbital, directed the contrary way. The body is oblong, mouth little cleft, teeth 
velvety, scales large, and no pores in the jaws. They inhabit the Indian seas. 
Micropteres, have the body oblong, three spines on each side of the jaw, and the last rays of the soft part of the 
dorsal separated from the others, and forming a small peculiar fin. They have the operculum without notches. 
The Scisenidae with less than seven gill-rays, and the lateral line interrupted, form several genera of 
small oval fishes, generally finely coloured, and distinguished by the armature of their heads. They 
have a nearer relation to the genus Chsetodon, and resemble some of the fishes with labyrinthic 
branchise. The following are the genera : — 
Amphitrion, with the pre-operculum and three operculum pieces dentelated, the latter produced on a single row 
of blunt teeth. Pomacentres, have the pre-operculum dentelated, the operculum without armature, and a single 
row of trenchant teeth. Premnas, have one or two stout spines on the suborbital, and the pi’e-operculum toothed. 
Dascyllus, resemble Pomacentres, except in having the teeth very small, and thickly crowded. All the genera in- 
habit the Indian seas. 
Glyphisodon, with the gill-lids entire, and a single row of trenchant and generally notched teeth. They are 
found in the Atlantic, but more abundantly in the Indian seas. 
Hdianus, resemble the preceding genus’ in their operculum, but have the teeth small and velvety. 
